Am I the only person who prefers plain socks?? ;-)

pictish · Am I the only person who prefers plain socks?? ;-)

I just can't seem to enjoy it - knitting patterned socks I mean Confused

I have tried quite a few now and always find it too fiddly and faffy Evil or Very Mad

and just not relaxing which is what knitting is meant to be isn't it? I really just like knitting plain st st ones yet the world - I mean the online knitting world - is hooked on lacy patterned socks Laughing

Am I the ONLY person who just doesn't get it? Shocked

Maybe it's cos I just don't do lace or something Mad

terri

You coud try something cabled instead???
Do you just not like knitting patterned socks, or do you not like them when they're finished either???

pictish

Well I've never finished any Laughing

but I think they do look nice in the pics and I have seen some monkeys and they were lovely!!! It's just the fiddling around and counting and having to think and CHARTS Shocked

- for SOCKS!!! Rolling Eyes

Cabling might be ok - maybe Wink

terri

You need somebody to make you a pair so you can see how good they look finished Wink

Fi

I always have a plainish pair on the go, but have not attempted anything too fancy yet.

Just a 2 row lacy is pattern.

Socks are my portable project so I like to be able to pick up/put down.

pictish

Ah well that's true Laughing

Maybe if I actually tried some on I might put in the effort Wink

I never thought I would knit socks in the first place but since I made some I have hardly ever worn a pair of shop bought ones.

KnittingLadybird

my sis prefers plain but lately I do prefer lacy/patterned because for me it makes the second sock easier to follow (ok match lol)

If the yarn is busy plain is best but sis insists that they feel better. I do like a patterned top but get bored with ss and trying to remember just how many rounds I did is like zzzzzzz for me.

Personally if you prefer plain then do plain...and admire you for that. Smile

pictish

I think it's the being able to totally switch off when I'm doing socks - it's just sooo relaxing all that st st - I don't count as I go along tho Linz - I count the rows now and again on the sock Wink

And I practically know the Opal pattern off by heart now - a bit like Joy and the FCS pattern Cool

melody yarns

It's not just you Ali - I prefer plain socks too Very Happy

I have only ever knitted one pair of lacy patterned socks and they were the pink Kim socks I finished earlier this year, ooh and two pairs of ribby socks for Dan and my Dad. The pink ones okay but I much prefer my brightly striped ones and the ribby ones were sooo boooooring to knit zzzzzz!

Okay, call me boring.... Laughing

CJ

Oh no, I much prefer plain socks too - far comfier to wear Wink

gilraen

modelwidow

Depends what you want to knit socks for. (Yes I know - feet) if you want an easily portable, pick up put downable knit then plain sounds perfect, nowt wrong with that.

Jobo

I like doing plain socks too! Sock knitting for me is relaxing and not taxing on the brain - something to do when I am not in the mood for more challenging knits.

Just the patterning of the beautiful sock yarns themselves is the fascination for me Very Happy

I have only done a couple of lacy pairs - but I DO like seeing everybody else's! Laughing

knittingnanny

I like a patterned sock in a plain yarn but good old st st for self patterning yarns.

Having said that, I'd like to make a pair of monkeys with n's variegated yarn.

Have you seen the free pattern for nine to five socks?
On Ravelry - but I don't know how to do a link Embarassed

Enough to keep you interested, but no cable needles!

Linda

pictish

Aknita

I like socks with a patternd cuff ( says she sounding like an expert Rolling Eyes

) but a plain foot, so I shall see how I get on with the monkeys when I get to the foot.

I have a pair of socks to photograph this morning with a patterned cuff. No charts Ali, it's a nice easy pattern - as is the Razor Shell pattern. One I get a pattern into my head I'm away and things grow much more quickly. I find going round and round a bit monotonous, but I'm also finding that the more socks I knit the quicker I am getting at them.

But it does depend on the yarn. I think a "busy" yarn can detract from a pattern sometimes. It will be interesting to see how I feel about the Sheldridge Farm I've chosen for the Monkey Socks.

pictish

Yes I have thought about the Razor Shell ones as I LOVED both pairs you have made Joy!!! I have some of n's merino in purpley colours I am reserving for those Cool

So I'll look forward to seeing your new socks - you never know I MIGHT be tempted Razz

I have got a couple of simple patterned ones I might try - both by Poshdee - the slip up socks and the No Tears socks which are rib/cable. And there's also Nancy Bush's Rib & Cable ones and a similar one in Favorite Socks.

FatCat

I'm like Gilraen, once I've made a patterned sock then it's stuck in my head and I can make it again and again. Usually after the first time through the pattern I've got it. And they're usually written so that you get a pattern repeat (or 2 or 3) to each needle, so I find it repetitive and relaxing, and you can easily check your stitch count and if you've made a mistake you don't have to tink back more than a round or two.

But each to their own, knitting's for fun and if you don't enjoy something then it'd be pointless carrying on with it just because you think you have to or should Very Happy

So, does this mean you're not going to make Monkeys out of that beautiful Sheldridge yarn you bought after all ..... ?

n

I think I'm like you, pictish, I really like plain socks and just letting the yarn do the work. Even just doing 2 x 2 rib to the ankle is pretty.
I do like patterned socks but I prefer plain feet, like Aknita, I don't find patterned feet very comfortable to wear.

n

pictish

FatCat

You could always send it to me, I'll make you Monkeys and send them back ..... although of course I can't guarantee that I'd have the willpower to send them back Twisted Evil

pictish

That's a kind thought FC Cool

I'm sure you'll be tempted to keep them tho - it's such lovely yarn Razz

I might have a go this afternoon Razz

probablyjane

I always have a plain sock on the go, just to relax and to enjoy a particulalry gorgeous hand painted skein that would swallow a pattern whole.

Having said that I just like playing with yarn to see what sort of effects I can get with it and socks are a perfect small project to play with. I certainly couldn't be so playful with a blooming great jumper....

pictish

Well pj we DO love your gorgeous patterns!!! Cool

pjmck

I usually have at least 2 pairs of socks on the go and at least 1 is a plain pair. I can just zone out almost when knitting them. The monkey pattern is easy to learn though and I can sit and knit that during the knitting group I go to without too much concentration.

Paula

probablyjane

minniemoll

I was strictly a plain sock knitter until a couple of weeks ago when I did my Monkeys, now I think I'm converted - I really enjoy knitting the patterns. I'm still not sure I'll wear them to be seen, but I'll know they're there inside my boots Very Happy

I'll still do plain socks for mindless knitting though.